Policy Gaps Challenge Cultural Heritage Preservation at Sunyaragi Cave in Cirebon

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FORMOSA NEWS - Cirebon - Preserving Indonesia’s cultural heritage requires more than formal regulations. A 2026 study published in the Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research reports that public policy implementation at Sunyaragi Cave, a historic site in Cirebon City, remains fragmented despite existing preservation rules. The research was conducted by Gunawan Fadillah Usmara and Leni Rohida from the Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati, and it explains why coordination, resources, and public communication are decisive for safeguarding heritage sites with living cultural value.

Sunyaragi Cave—also known as Taman Air Sunyaragi—is a legacy of the Cirebon Sultanate and an important symbol of regional identity. The findings matter because heritage tourism is rising, yet weak policy execution can accelerate physical degradation and dilute cultural meaning. As cities pursue culture-based sustainable development, how governments translate policy into practice becomes a determining factor.

Why Sunyaragi Cave matters now

Across Indonesia, cultural heritage sites face mounting pressure from urbanization, mass tourism, and limited public budgets. National and local regulations already recognize heritage protection as a public responsibility, but implementation often stalls at the operational level.

In Cirebon City, Sunyaragi Cave sits at the intersection of tourism development and cultural preservation. It attracts visitors for its architecture, history, and spiritual symbolism. At the same time, it requires careful maintenance, clear governance, and active community engagement. The study places Sunyaragi Cave within this broader national challenge: preserving cultural identity while enabling local economic growth.

How the research examined policy implementation

The researchers used a qualitative case study to understand how preservation policy works on the ground. Data came from:

·         In-depth interviews with officials at the Cirebon City Culture and Tourism Office

·         Interviews with managers from the Sunyaragi Water Park Management Agency

·         Direct field observations at the heritage site

To interpret the findings, the authors applied George C. Edwards III’s public policy implementation model and insights from street-level bureaucracy, focusing on communication, resources, disposition of implementers, and bureaucratic structure. This approach allowed the researchers to assess how policy decisions are translated into daily management practices.

Key findings: where implementation falls short

The study identifies several interconnected issues that limit effective cultural heritage preservation at Sunyaragi Cave:

·      Weak inter-agency coordination Responsibilities are split across institutions, but coordination mechanisms are informal and inconsistent. This leads to overlapping tasks and gaps in site management.

·         Limited human and financial resources Preservation efforts rely on a small number of staff and constrained budgets, making it difficult to conduct routine maintenance, conservation, and educational programs.

·         Insufficient public communication Information about preservation rules and cultural values is not consistently communicated to visitors or surrounding communities. As a result, public participation remains low.

·         Implementation at the street level is unevenFrontline officials and site managers exercise discretion in daily operations, but without strong guidance and support, policy objectives are not fully realized.

Together, these factors explain why formal preservation policies have not translated into optimal outcomes for Sunyaragi Cave.

The case for collaborative governance

One of the study’s strongest conclusions is the need for collaborative governance. Preservation cannot rely solely on government agencies. Instead, it requires structured cooperation among local government, site managers, cultural experts, and the surrounding community.

Ethically paraphrasing the authors’ analysis, Gunawan Fadillah Usmara and Leni Rohida of Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati emphasize that inclusive collaboration strengthens policy implementation by aligning authority, resources, and local knowledge. When stakeholders share responsibility, preservation becomes more adaptive and sustainable.

Real-world implications for heritage policy

The findings carry practical lessons beyond Cirebon City:

·          For local governments: Clear coordination frameworks and shared performance indicators can reduce overlap and improve accountability in heritage management.

·        For policymakers: Cultural preservation policies should include implementation guidelines, not just regulatory mandates.

·      For tourism managers: Balancing visitor access with conservation requires continuous communication and education strategies.

·          For communities and educators: Involving local residents fosters stewardship and reinforces cultural identity.

In the context of Indonesia’s cultural diversity, these insights support a shift from rule-based preservation to participatory governance models that respond to local conditions.

Author profiles

• Gunawan Fadillah Usmara, S.AP., M.AP. Lecturer and researcher in Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati. His expertise focuses on public policy implementation and local governance.
• Leni Rohida, S.AP., M.AP. Lecturer in Public Administration at Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati, specializing in public sector management, cultural policy, and governance studies. 

Source

Usmara, G. F., & Rohida, L.

Implementation of Public Policy in Cultural Heritage Preservation: A Case Study of Sunyaragi Cave Management in Cirebon City Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijar.v5i1.16060